A new safe haven for young people, co-funded by the LPP Foundation
Elbląg has gained a new venue, dedicated to supporting young people’s mental health. The Ogrody Shopping Centre now hosts the fourth Blue Sneakers club, a welcoming space where teenagers can spend meaningful time, pursue their passions and access specialist support. The project has been initiated and delivered by the FOSA Foundation, with the LPP Foundation as a partner and co-funder. The club has been created in cooperation with the City of Elbląg and the Ogrody Shopping Centre.
The new club opened in December 2025 at the Ogrody Shopping Centre in Elbląg. It offers a safe, friendly and inspiring environment for young people aged 13-19, including a place to talk, build relationships, develop their interests and relax after school. The club welcomed 57 visitors on its first day, demonstrating the clear need for such a space in the region.
Young people have access to a range of activities, including pool, table football, board games, a PS5, creative workshops and collaborative community projects. The club is run by a team of professionals: educators, psychologists, youth workers and streetworkers, offering support in a safe and relaxed setting.
From Gdańsk to Elbląg – steady project growth
Launched and delivered by the Aleksandra FOSA Social Support Foundation, the Blue Sneakers initiative has consistently responded to the increasing mental health needs of young people and the limited availability of specialist assistance. The first clubs opened in Gdańsk: at the Forum Shopping Centre, funded by the city authorities, followed by locations at Galeria Metropolia and Galeria Przymorze, both fully financed by the LPP Foundation. This one in Elbląg is the fourth Blue Sneakers location and marks the project’s first expansion beyond the Tricity area. The club is operated by the FOSA Foundation in partnership with the City of Elbląg, the Ogrody Shopping Centre and the LPP Foundation. It was formally launched with the signing of a letter of intent, confirming the partners’ shared, long-term commitment to supporting young people.
– Blue Sneakers is far more than just a youth club. It offers a comprehensive support system, including school workshops, psychoeducational programmes for parents, social campaigns and direct assistance. Our partnership with the LPP Foundation allows us to expand the project and reach more communities where young people truly need a safe space and adults they can trust – says Dastin Suski, Vice-President of the FOSA Foundation.
The LPP Foundation’s long-term engagement
Supporting Blue Sneakers is one element of the LPP Foundation’s broader efforts to improve the mental wellbeing of children and young people. These initiatives also include a nationwide helpline and a range of educational and community programmes.
– Ending 2025 with four fully operational Blue Sneakers clubs, we can clearly see how much these spaces matter to young people. Our goal is not only to provide easier access to professional support and guidance, but also to create environments where young people feel free to be themselves. For us, Elbląg marks an important milestone in the project’s continued growth and demonstrates that cross-sector collaboration can effectively address local needs – says Patrycja Zbytniewska, President of the LPP Foundation.
Experience from the existing clubs shows that Blue Sneaker clubs play a vital role in local communities, serving not only as places to meet, but also as centres that can respond quickly in times of crisis. With no barriers to access and specialist support available on site, young people are keen to return and treat the clubs as a safe place that they can rely on. In 2025, the four active clubs recorded almost 15,000 visits, including 2,500 first-time visitors.
Blue Sneakers Club at the Forum Shopping Centre, Gdańsk
Located on Level 0, Forum Młodzieży, next to TK Maxx
Monday to Friday, 12:00-18:30
Blue Sneakers Club at Galeria Metropolia, Gdańsk
Located on Level -1, next to Siemanko
Monday to Friday, 13:00-19:00
Blue Sneakers Club at Galeria Przymorze, Gdańsk
Located on Level +1, next to Lechia
Monday to Friday, 13:00-19:00
Blue Sneakers Club at the Ogrody Shopping Centre, Elbląg
Monday to Friday, 13:00-19:00
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LPP is a Polish family business and one of the fastest growing clothing companies in the region of Central Europe. For 30 years, it has been successfully designing and selling the collections and accessories in Poland and abroad. LPP manages five fashion brands: Reserved, Cropp, House, Mohito, and Sinsay, whose offer is available today in stationary and online stores in 46 markets worldwide. The company has a chain of over 3,400 stores with the total area of over 2.8 million m2 and distributes the products to 3 continents every year. LPP also plays an important role as it provides employment to over 54 thousand people in its offices and sales structures in Poland, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The company is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in the WIG20 index and belongs to the prestigious MSCI Poland index.